As the new school year begins, conversations around safety and preparedness inevitably return to the forefront. Students are often the first to see warning signs of student violence through statements, behaviors or social media posts that suggest a peer may be planning to cause harm at school. The key question is not just whether students speak up, but to whom they report those concerns. One crucial individual in the threat reporting process is the school resource officer (SRO).
Our study and key findings
We examined whether students in grades 6-12 are willing to report the following situations to SROs:
- Gun threats: Seeing someone with a gun at school or hearing that someone intends to bring a gun to school
- Physical and written threats: Being told by someone they plan to hurt others at school or seeing written notes about harming others
- Social media threats: Viewing posts suggesting someone plans to harm others at school or seeing pictures of a student with a gun or bullets
Our results revealed:
- 67.9% of students would report to their SRO if they saw someone with a gun at school, and 53.7% would report if someone said they intended to bring a gun.
- 44% would report to the SRO if told directly that someone intended to harm others, while only 25% would report if they saw written notes about guns and violence.
- 34% would report social media posts about plans to harm others, while 29% would report if they saw pictures of a student with a gun or bullets online.
- Notably, large percentages of students (32.1% to 75%) would not report a variety of threats — including seeing a gun — to the SRO.
- Across all threats, students were far more likely to report to a teacher than an SRO (82.4% vs. 67.9% for seeing someone with a gun).
Overall, the findings suggest that students are less inclined to report school threats — including serious ones — directly to an SRO, even though doing so may be critical in preventing violence.
Discussion
Many students hesitate to report to SROs. Some may see them as approachable, but others worry about getting someone “in trouble” or fear that involving law enforcement will create unintended consequences.
Teachers are vital for emotional support and for spotting early behavioral concerns, but they may not be equipped to handle threats in the same way trained law enforcement can. For this reason, it is essential that students feel comfortable reporting warning signs of potential violence to an SRO.
It is not enough to say “see something, say something.” We must finish the sentence: “See something, say something — to your school resource officer.”
Key takeaways
Schools and law enforcement agencies should prioritize education around the role of SROs. Students must understand that reporting to an SRO is not “snitching” but a responsible, potentially life-saving decision. Classroom presentations, peer-led campaigns, open Q&A sessions and other events that build student-SRO relationships can help demystify their role and reinforce accessibility.
Equally important is ensuring students know how to report. Clear pathways — whether in person, anonymously or through school apps — should be established and communicated often. These systems should always include a way to reach the SRO.
This focus on reporting to SROs is not about excluding teachers or parents. They remain critical allies. But when a threat emerges, every delay, miscommunication or referral adds unnecessary risk. Students must feel confident reporting directly to an individual with the training and duty to act — the SRO.
As students return to classrooms, it is not enough to say “see something, say something.” We must finish the sentence: “See something, say something — to your SRO.” The most effective school violence prevention tool is informed, empowered students who know where to turn when something feels wrong. Any unreported threat could be the one that changes lives forever.
Tactical takeaway
Students must be encouraged and equipped to report threats directly to SROs, ensuring warnings reach those trained to act immediately.
How can your agency strengthen trust between students and SROs to improve threat reporting?
Police1 school violence prevention resources
- Prevention, disruption & response: The strategies communities must deploy to stop school shootings
- How a threat assessment team tracks students of concern
- Building multi-disciplinary school threat assessment teams
- An integrated technological approach to school attack prevention and response
| WATCH: Experts Katherine Schweit and Dr. Peter Langman analyze the FBI’s 2024 active shooter report, offering insight into prevention strategies, training, tech and trends
